Pollinators need our help

#Middlebury #NoMowMay #Pollinators

A pollinator with pollen clinging to its hind legs approaches a sunflower. Pollinator populations in the U.S. have declined dramatically over the past 30 years. (Pixabay photo)

By MARJORIE NEEDHAM

Flowers emerge in spring and so do the pollinators. Pause by the blooming tree (Bradford pear?) by the Middlebury Post Office and spend a few minutes just observing it. Busy pollinators buzz about seeking nectar from one of the few sources available in early spring. Along the way, they distribute pollen.

The United State Department of Agriculture reminds us, “Pollination services from honeybees and other insects provide the backbone to ensuring our diets are diverse and plentiful with fruits, nuts, and vegetables.” So our fate, at least when it comes to the food we eat, is closely connected to the fate of pollinators. Learn more at usda.gov/pollinators.

We may think of honeybees first, but the USDA says there are more than 4,000 types of bees in the U.S. and more than 100 crops depend on pollinators. While the honeybee is the major pollinator here, butterflies, moths, bats, and birds also help with pollination. No pollinators, fewer crops. In the U.S. the major pollinated crops include almonds, non-citrus fruit trees, berries, melons, and squash.

The USDA reports that, during the past 30-plus years, our nation’s pollinator populations have suffered serious losses due to invasive pests and diseases, such as mites and viral and fungal pathogens; exposure to pesticides and other chemicals; loss of habitat; loss of species and genetic diversity; and changing climate. Numerous species of butterflies, moths, and native bees are either extremely rare or are extinct.

One thing we can do to help reverse these losses is to make sure pollinators can find food sources. This is especially important in early spring when few flowers bloom. Dandelions are among the first to bloom. You may hate them, but the pollinator needs them for survival.

That’s why some communities are observing “No Mow May.” They are delaying the start of mowing their lawns until the end of May, and they are leaving the dandelions and other flowers for the pollinators until pollinators have more sources of nectar.

Learn all about No Mow May at beecityusa.org/no-mow-may. The No Mow May movement started in the United Kingdom and is now spreading in the U.S. Appleton, Wisconsin, was the first U.S. city, starting in 2020. This year, 25 other U.S. cities are participating. Here in New England, two Maine towns, Rockland and Lamoine, just this month agreed to encourage their residents to take part in “No Mow May.” In cities that participate, during the month of May local authorities generally change or choose not to enforce ordinances that would require homeowners to keep their grass mowed.

No Mow May is just one way to help pollinators. Another is simply to provide them with plants they need, to think about pollinator needs while planning your garden or while picking up plants at a garden center. Some towns create pollinator pathways. For a list of participating Connecticut towns, visit www.pollinator-pathway.org/towns-1/connecticut. Neighboring towns on the list are Naugatuck and Southbury. Naugatuck has Gunntown Passive Park and Nature Preserve; Southbury is developing its pollinator pathway.

If you are interested in No Mow May or in developing pollinator pathways here in Middlebury, we’d love to hear from you. With enough local support, Middlebury could help reverse the current decline of pollinators. Send an email with “Pollinators” in the subject line to mbisubmit@gmail.com to express your interest and provide your contact information. We hope to hear from you.